Financing data reveals a substantial support package exceeding six million euros, marking a period when Ford Spain surpassed its own prior achievements in 2021. That year, the Almussafes plant in Valencia confirmed a lead over the Saarlouis plant in Germany in terms of electrification progress, a trend reflected in the following year’s subsidies and investments.
The Year 2022 Report filed with the Trade Registry provides the official record of this aid, showing contributions from multiple public sources. The document, authenticated by the Council through the Ministry of Economy, the central government via the Industrial Technological Development Center, and the European Commission, tallies a total of 6.08 million euros in support for Ford Spain. In context, this represents nearly a quarter of the total 27.3 million euros in government aid that Ford Spain secured for projects during the prior year.
Among the various components, the largest contribution originates from the Agreement to Support Sustainable and Productive Investments in the automotive sector, issued by the Government of Turkey. That particular program, directed by a ministry led at the time by Rafael Climent, accounted for 4.6 million euros. With this sizable allocation, the company surpassed the aid totals recorded in 2020 and 2021, when the COVID era constrained many investment initiatives and the grant levels were lower.
Highest in four years
Since 2018, Ford Spain has not surpassed the six million euro mark in public subsidies for projects, a threshold that the regional authorities previously set. The Valencian leadership, under Ximo Puig, had already authorized grants totaling six million euros to support the development of prototype engines and the production ramp for models such as the Transit Connect and the Kuga. Today, at the Valencia facility, the electrification timeline remains on track with ongoing production plans and anticipated announcements later in the year. This comes after the government completed another round of funding under the same program, following the decision to relinquish the previous year’s 106 million euro Perte electric initiative. In the weeks ahead, Ford Spain has both battery line upgrades and broader productive projects continuing to unfold, reinforcing the region as a focal point for automotive electrification and industrial modernization.
Meanwhile, Ford faces scrutiny from federal authorities in the United States over its handling of the 2022 recall of the company’s first all electric SUV, the Mustang Mach-E. The recall concerns a battery-related issue that has prompted warnings from customers about unresolved faults. Reports indicate potential battery meter overheating, a fault that could reduce power while operating in electric mode, raising questions about safety and the timeliness of corrective actions. This situation underscores the tension between rapid electrification efforts and the rigorous safety standards required for new vehicle technologies, wherever production occurs. The case remains under close examination by federal investigators and industry observers alike, with implications for manufacturing practices and consumer trust in electric vehicles.